President Bola Tinubu has asked Nigerians to forgive him if he has ever wronged them.
He made the appeal on Wednesday during the opening of this year’s Tafsir at the State House mosque in Abuja.
Tinubu also reflected on the rare overlap of Ramadan and Lent, saying it reminds everyone of the values they share.
“Ramadan coincides with Lent, reminding us of our common commitment to sacrifice, discipline, prayer, and self-denial.
“We start this Ramadan with all the teaching that it brings to us all. But the main principle is to do good to people, to share love and faith, and to forgive sins. I say, if I have sinned, forgive me as Nigerians.”
The President stressed that fasting should not be only about physical abstinence. He said it should also reflect kindness, forgiveness, good deeds, and love for humanity.
He called on Nigerians of all faiths to pray for peace and support efforts to fight terrorism, banditry, and insecurity across the country.
In his earlier message to both Christians and Muslims on Lent and Ramadan, Tinubu urged them to honour God and treat fellow humans with respect.
He signed the message personally and noted that the coincidence of the two seasons shows that people of faith share much in common. “We are one people under God,” he said.
He added, “As a nation and as a people, I urge us, as we embark on these important observances, to ensure good neighbourliness, promote peace, unity, and stability, and pray for the progress and security of our nation.
“Let us live by the good precepts of our faiths and be honourable in our duty to God and fellow humans, and pray that the lessons, blessings, and joys of these sacred seasons abide with us always.”
Greeting Christians and Muslims, the President said, “This year, Lent and Ramadan begin on the same day. This is not a common occurrence, and it reminds us that as a people of faith, we share a lot in common and are one people under God.
“For Christians, the Lenten season is a time for fasting, abstinence, and penitence, following Jesus Christ’s example in the wilderness before His crucifixion, which brought salvation to mankind.
“For Muslims, Ramadan is a hallowed season that reflects total submission to God Almighty and His command of sacrifice, devotion, service, and communal love and giving. It marks one of the five pillars of Islam. Beyond the obligatory fasting, Ramadan calls for deep spiritual reflection in obedience to Islam’s injunctions.”
